US Bans Polestar from Importing Cars with Chinese Links

The electric car brand Polestar's days in the US are seriously numbered. Today, the company revealed that the US Commerce Department has declined to authorize imports of new Polestars from model year 2027 onward as part of a rule banning connected cars from automakers with Chinese links. Polestar says it will continue to sell its existing stock of Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 SUVs and "will continue to support customers, including providing access to its service network." But we can forget about the Polestar 5 sedan, the Polestar 6 roadster, or any future models making it to these shores.

The automaker was spun out of Volvo Cars several years ago as a pure EV brand by its corporate parent, Zhejiang Geely Holding, a Chinese company that also owns OEMs like Lynk and Co and Zeekr. And just weeks ago, Commerce authorized Volvo to import MY27 vehicles. At the time, Polestar told Ars that it was continuing to work with US authorities to meet the regulations; that work was evidently in vain.

The US government's decision highlights the increasing scrutiny of Chinese-linked automakers in the US market. As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, the implications of this ban will be closely watched by industry stakeholders. The ban raises questions about the long-term viability of Chinese-linked EV brands in the US and the potential for future regulatory hurdles.

For Polestar, this means a significant setback in its US expansion plans. The company's existing customers will still receive support, but the ban effectively blocks Polestar's access to the US market for new models. This development may also have a ripple effect on other Chinese-linked automakers looking to enter the US market, as they will need to carefully navigate the complex regulatory environment.

Ultimately, the US government's actions underscore the growing tensions between the US and China in the technology and automotive sectors.